University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota traces its roots to 1862, when the Dakota Territorial Legislature chartered it as the first university in what would become the state. Located in Vermillion, a town of about 11,000 along the Missouri River, USD serves as the flagship public institution, drawing students from across the Midwest who value affordability and a straightforward path to careers in essential fields like healthcare and law. You'll find a grounded personality here—practical, community-oriented, with a focus on serving South Dakota's needs amid wide-open prairies and rolling bluffs.

Students who thrive at USD often prefer small-town rhythms over urban hustle, enjoying close ties to faculty and classmates in a place where professors know your name by sophomore year. The surrounding area offers low cost of living and outdoor pursuits like hiking or river paddling, but tradeoffs include isolation—major cities like Sioux Falls lie an hour away—and harsh winters that keep you indoors from November through March. Those seeking constant nightlife or mild weather might feel the distance more acutely.